Launching a New Catholic School in Rockwall, TX
How do you know if a new Catholic school would be viable?
This was the important question facing Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish when it partnered with Meitler.
Opening a new PK-8 Catholic school is a consequential decision and would have a significant impact on the community. Therefore, the decision needed to be answered by careful consideration built on data and experience.
Evaluating the Needs of Parents and the Community
Of course, there was a lot of enthusiasm. To the credit of parish leaders, the idea wasn’t unfounded. Rockwall’s population has surged in recent years, jumping 18% since the 2020 census.
The median age is late 30s, and that means a lot of parents with school-aged children. Our Lady of the Lake was growing as well. A new school sounded not only exciting, but a logical necessity.
But how to confirm the demand existed? And what about economics? With inflation, the cost of living, and other financial pressures, even dual income families could feel that a Catholic school was out of reach.
What About Competition With Other Catholic Schools?
Another critical question to ask was why not point families to existing schools? The Diocese operates thirty-six Catholic schools across nine counties.
However, none of those are based in Rockwall. The nearest school, St. Joseph, is a half hour away in Richardson.
Would opening a new school negatively impact those institutions or create rifts among local Catholics as schools further compete?
Additionally, if the education market was crowded, how would a new school distinguish itself?
These questions demanded rigorous analysis, which is why Our Lady of the Lake engaged Meitler’s expertise in Catholic school planning. The right data would shed light on a pivotal moment.
Meitler’s Data-Driven Approach to Catholic School Planning
Meitler assembled a steering committee of parish leaders to guide the study.
Our team developed and implemented a communications plan to raise awareness and gather input. We compiled and analyzed demographic data from multiple sources, focusing on 11 zip codes where 89% of parishioners live.
We conducted focus groups and stakeholder interviews with parents, pastors, and diocesan leaders. This is an indispensable part of our process. Without an intimate understanding of the audience, any organization risks a strategy based on inaccurate needs, and making decisions that exacerbate problems, instead of solving them.
An online survey resulted in over 650 household responses, capturing input from families with 872 children. We designed and distributed a Spanish version as well.
To answer the question of how a new school should position itself, we benchmarked competitors and analyzed decision-making factors for parents, including cost, proximity, teacher-to-student ratios, extracurricular activities, and the strength of faith formation.
All of our findings were synthesized into a comprehensive final report with recommendations on enrollment potential, financial feasibility, and distinctive programming opportunities.
Key Insights and Recommendations
Our study concluded that the demand was there!
97% of survey respondents supported opening a Catholic PK–8 school in Rockwall.
Not only did the need exist, but it was a growing need. Rockwall’s population is projected to grow by 32% between 2020–2030, with steady increases in school-aged children. Halfway through that projection, the timing couldn’t be better.
To make the new school affordable, a tuition set at $8,000 felt sustainable for most families, combined with targeted aid and vouchers which would make the school accessible across income tiers.
Student enrollment begins with a thriving parish community, such as at Our Lady of the Lake, where the sacramental life of the parish creates a natural feeder system.
To compete with other private academies, religious schools, and public schools, the new school needed to prioritize small class sizes, faith formation, strong academics, and unique offerings (STEM, fine arts, robotics, support for diverse learners).
Meitler recommended a strategy of opening with one section per grade, then building capacity over the first three years through strong leadership, marketing, and community engagement.
Relying on our expertise in Catholic school strategy, and the Meitler process, including diligent audience research, we provided clear insights and actionable recommendations.
Our Lady of the Lake leadership now has the confidence to move forward with a vision that solves a great community need and strengthens Catholic education in the region.
